Embodiments of the present disclosure include acquiring, by a TDF entity, a correlation identifier of a data flow of an application borne by the TDF entity; and sending, by the TDF entity, first charging information to a charging system, where the first charging information carries the correlation identifier of the data flow of the application borne by the TDF entity, so that the charging system performs, according to the correlation identifier of the data flow of the application borne by the TDF entity and a correlation identifier of a data flow borne by a PCEF entity, correlation processing for the first charging information and second charging information that is sent by the PCEF entity to the charging system, where the second charging information carries the correlation identifier of the data flow borne by the PCEF entity. Thereby, accurate charging can be performed for the data flow and the application.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A charging method, comprising: receiving, by a charging system, first charging information sent by a traffic detection function (TDF) entity, wherein the first charging information carries a correlation identifier of a data flow of an application borne by the TDF entity; receiving, by the charging system, second charging information sent by a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) entity, wherein the second charging information carries a correlation identifier of a data flow borne by the PCEF entity; and correlating, by the charging system, the first charging information and the second charging information according to the correlation identifier of the data flow of the application borne by the TDF entity and the correlation identifier of the data flow borne by the PCEF entity, wherein the correlating comprises: determining duplicated charging information if the correlation identifier in the first charging information is the same as the correlation identifier in the second charging information, and performing charging for non-duplicated charging information by removing the determined duplicated charging information.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving, by a charging system, first charging information sent by a traffic detection function TDF entity, comprises: receiving, by the charging system, the first charging information sent by the TDF entity to the charging system when a reporting trigger condition of the TDF entity is satisfied.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the receiving, by the charging system, second charging information sent by a policy and charging enforcement function entity PCEF entity, comprises sending, by the charging system according to the correlation identifier of the data flow of the application borne by the TDF entity, to the PCEF entity an indication message for instructing the PCEF entity to send the second charging information.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the receiving, by the charging system, second charging information sent by a policy and charging enforcement function entity PCEF entity, comprises receiving, by the charging system, the second charging information sent by the PCEF entity in response to the indication message.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the indication message carries the correlation identifier of the data flow of the application borne by the TDF entity; and the receiving, by the charging system, the second charging information sent by the PCEF entity in response to the indication message, comprises: receiving, by the charging system, charging information sent by the PCEF entity, wherein the charging information is of the data flow borne by the PCEF entity and is corresponding to the correlation identifier of the data flow of the application borne by the TDF entity.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving, by the charging system, second charging information sent by a policy and charging enforcement function entity PCEF entity, comprises: receiving, by the charging system, the second charging information sent by the PCEF entity to the charging system when a reporting trigger condition of the PCEF entity is satisfied; before the receiving, by a charging system, first charging information sent by a traffic detection function TDF entity, the method further comprises: sending, by the charging system according to the correlation identifier of the data flow borne by the PCEF entity, to the TDF entity an indication message for instructing the TDF entity to send the first charging information; and the receiving, by a charging system, first charging information sent by a traffic detection function TDF entity, comprises: receiving, by the charging system, the first charging information sent by the TDF entity in response to the indication message.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the indication message carries the correlation identifier of the data flow borne by the PCEF entity; and the receiving, by the charging system, the first charging information sent by the TDF entity in response to the indication message, comprises: receiving, by the charging system, charging information sent by the TDF entity, wherein the charging information is charging information that is of the data flow of the application borne by the TDF entity and is corresponding to the correlation identifier of the data flow borne by the PCEF entity.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 15, 2015
January 3, 2017
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